EDUCATION: College: Boston University, 1986 Medical School: Boston University, 1990 Orthopaedic Surgery Residency: Boston University, 1995 Fellowship: Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, 1996 HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Northside Hospital BOARD CERTIFICATION: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Advanced Trauma and Life Support LICENSURE: Medical License - State of Georgia PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons American Medical Association Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America Scoliosis Research Society AREAS OF CLINICAL INTEREST: Spinal Deformity/Scoliosis Limb Deficiency Cerebral Palsy Orthopaedic Trauma CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS: Brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis Use of an evidence-based pathway for post-operative management after spinal fusion for scoliosis Evaluation of femur fractures in children less than three years of age Efficacy of flexible nail fixation in femur fractures PERSONAL INTERESTS: Wakeboarding, mountain biking, swimming, snow boarding

Michael L. Schmitz, M.D.

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Dr. Michael Schmitz joined Children's Orthopaedics of Atlanta in 1996. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Magna cum Laude from Boston University's College of Liberal Arts. He continued at the Boston University School of Medicine through the accelerated MMEDIC program with honors in ten clinical areas including pediatrics. After completing a surgical internship at Boston City Hospital, he remained in Boston to complete his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Boston University. Dr. Schmitz came to Atlanta for a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedic surgery at the Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center. Upon completion of his fellowship, he was invited to join the staff at Children's Orthopaedics of Atlanta.

Dr. Schmitz has authored papers on the effect of surgical delay on acute infections following open fractures and treatment options for supracondylar humerus fractures. He has authored chapters on the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphyses and tibial deficiencies in American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Monograph publications. He has had abstracts evaluating orthotic treatment of scoliosis and cost and outcomes of various surgical constructs used to treat scoliosis accepted at international conferences. He has presented at multiple conferences across the nation to orthopaedic surgeons on topics including the use of intra-operative CT- based navigation, deformity correction for scoliosis, pediatric orthopaedic trauma, and pediatric limb deficiency.

In addition to his busy pediatric orthopaedic practice, Dr. Schmitz guides institutional program development and strategy as the Chief of Orthopaedics at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. He is the co-director of the Spasticity and Limb Deficiency clinics at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as well as the Medical Director of the Fracture Program.

Dr. Schmitz remains active in a number of associations including the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, the Scoliosis Research Society, and the Association of Children's Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinics. He participates in the Clinical Research Oversite Committee and is a member of the review team for Children's Center or Pediatric Healthcare Technology Innovation at Georgia Tech.

Dr. Schmitz's ongoing research projects include:

• The efficacy of brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis
• Outcome analysis of the introduction of an evidence-based pathway for pre, peri, and postop management of spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis
• A review of the efficacy of flexible nail fixation for pediatric femur fractures

Dr. Schmitz sees patients at the following locations: Alpharetta, Fayette, Forsyth and Meridian Mark.

To schedule an appointment, call 404-255-1933 or schedule online now.